i remember in my state of massachusetts, when katrina hit and some of the people who were evacuated from new orleans were brought to massachusetts, we gathered them at a military base on cape cod. they thought there are going to houston, by the way. [laughter] and when the airplane said, no, we're going to boston, there were not very happy because it is colder and boston. so the king to give cod. we told our citizens that there were people coming from new orleans who were affected by the hurricane and they might need help. and you know what? there were cars lined up. people dropping of all sorts of goods of all kinds, some things that were temporary like food, but also of tv sets and) it was amazing to see the turn out. it is part of the american way. we have people right now that are having some hard times because of this terrible hurricane and the storm that followed it. and your generosity will make a difference. i want to thank you. we have some work to do. but to make this an enjoyable were sitting, we have asked a great entertainer, randy owen of alabama, to be here. [applause] he